Author: awood

CATEGORIES: News

Cyclone researchers: Warming climate means more and stronger Atlantic tropical storms

A warming climate will increase the number of tropical cyclones and their intensity in the North Atlantic, potentially creating more and stronger hurricanes, according to simulations using a high-resolution, global climate model. “Unfortunately, it’s not great news for people living in coastal regions,” said Christina Patricola, an Iowa State University assistant professor of geological and … Continue reading Cyclone researchers: Warming climate means more and stronger Atlantic tropical storms

CATEGORIES: Awards, News

Dr. Boyd Wyatt honored with distinguished alumni award

Dr. Kandis Y. Boyd Wyatt was presented the 2022 Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award at a ceremony in Ames, Iowa on Nov. 3, 2022. The award recognizes alumni from Iowa State University’s Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences who have made significant contributions to their field and their community. Boyd Wyatt … Continue reading Dr. Boyd Wyatt honored with distinguished alumni award

CATEGORIES: News

Study shows Gulf of Maine cooling for 900 years, then quickly warming since late 1800s

By combining seawater data taken from clam shells and thousands of climate simulations, researchers found that 900 years of cooling in the Gulf of Maine were suddenly reversed in the late 1800s. Why did that happen? The “recent, rapid ocean warming” was “likely due to increased atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and changes in western North … Continue reading Study shows Gulf of Maine cooling for 900 years, then quickly warming since late 1800s

CATEGORIES: News

New climate science degree at ISU offers interdisciplinary training

A new interdisciplinary degree program beginning this fall at Iowa State University aims to prepare students for careers helping society address and adapt to climate change. Along with a core curriculum of geological and atmospheric science, economics and science communication, students will choose additional coursework in at least one of six defined pathways: advanced climate … Continue reading New climate science degree at ISU offers interdisciplinary training

CATEGORIES: Awards, News

Lt. Col. Breea Lisko honored with Distinguished Alumni Award

Lt. Col. Breea Lisko, a decorated meteorologist with the United States Air Force and Department of Defense policy advisor, received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Iowa State University Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences at a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 21. The award recognizes outstanding alumni from the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences … Continue reading Lt. Col. Breea Lisko honored with Distinguished Alumni Award

CATEGORIES: Outreach

Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) – Katherine Hanson

During the summer of 2021, Dr. Alex Gonzalez mentored Urbandale High School Teacher, Katherine Hanson, on a short research project studying the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) as a part of ISU’s Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Program. Katherine analyzed day-to-day satellite imagery over the eastern Pacific Ocean of precipitation and other observed data sets of … Continue reading Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) – Katherine Hanson

CATEGORIES: News

Regional climate forecast is troubling, but there’s hope

Dig into the latest big report just released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and a fact sheet tells you about projected climate changes in central North America. There’s “high confidence” that drought will increase as warming increases, according to the panel’s sixth report, “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis.” It’s “very likely” … Continue reading Regional climate forecast is troubling, but there’s hope

CATEGORIES: News

Winds of Change – The Graether Family Fund for Climate Science

While the term “climate change” can provoke polarized reactions, retired Marshalltown ophthalmic surgeon and philanthropist Dr. John Graether says those reactions point to the importance of education. “The education of people is so important in fighting climate change; people don’t grasp the enormity of the problem,” he says. “I think we can make a difference … Continue reading Winds of Change – The Graether Family Fund for Climate Science

CATEGORIES: News

Glaciologists measure, model hard glacier beds, write slip law to estimate glacier speeds

During their trips to glacier beds recently exposed by retreating glaciers in the Swiss Alps (Rhone, Schwarzburg and Tsanfleuron glaciers) and the Canadian Rockies (Castleguard Glacier), four glaciologists used laser and drone technology to precisely measure the rocky beds and record their very different contours. The researchers turned the measurements into high-resolution digital models of … Continue reading Glaciologists measure, model hard glacier beds, write slip law to estimate glacier speeds

CATEGORIES: News

Timing is Everything – Graether Family Fund for Climate Science Advancement

For the past few years, the faculty and staff in the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences have sought to develop a new major for undergraduate students focused on climate science. The challenge was determining how to offer a new, robust program with no additional funding. During this same time, Dr. John Graether, a retired … Continue reading Timing is Everything – Graether Family Fund for Climate Science Advancement